PC MINS 20200512 Approved 6/23/2020
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 12, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Leon called the virtual meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPTIONS
Interim Deputy Director Silva provided information related to participation options
available to the public.
LATE CORRESPONDENCE
Interim Deputy Director Silva informed the Planning Commission that late
correspondence was received and distributed prior to the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Hamill led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Chura, Hamill, James, Saadatnejadi, Santarosa, Vice Chair
Perestam and Chairman Leon.
Absent: None
Also present were Interim Community Development Director Rodrigue, Interim Deputy
Director Silva, Associate Planner Yoon, Assistant Planner Guillean, Public Works
Director Sassoon, and City Attorney Gerli.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Approved as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS
City Council Items: Interim Deputy Director Silva provided an update regarding the
April 21, 2020 City Council meeting in which the Council received and filed a final
Planning Commission Minutes
May 12, 2020
Page 2
summary report on the 2019 Peafowl Trapping Program and the 2020 Peafowl Census
Report; Interim Deputy Director Silva also provided an update on the April 27, 2020
CIP Budget Workshop in which the Council received and filed a report on the status of
the current FY2019-20 Capital Improvement Program that included direction on the
proposed 5-year Capital Improvement Program.
Staff: Interim Deputy Director Silva provided an update on the virtual development
review process and outlined the Community Development Department’s contact
information. Interim Deputy Director Silva also discussed the required workplace
harassment training that is to be completed before June 1, 2020.
Commission: None
Comments from the audience (regarding non-agenda items): None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 14, 2020 P.C. MINUTES
Approved as presented.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
None
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. HEIGHT VARIATION, MAJOR GRADING PERMIT, VARIANCE, SITE PLAN
REVIEW, AND ENCROACHMENT PERMIT: (CASE NO. PLVA2018-0001):
28160 Palos Verdes Drive East (JY)
Commissioners Hamill and Santarosa recused themselves.
Associate Planner Yoon presented the staff report which included a request to
construct a new 5,923ft² (garage included), three-story, single-family residence and
ancillary site improvements with 1,517yd3 of associated grading on a vacant lot. The
presentation also outlined Staff’s concerns with the project related to Neighborhood
Compatibility and grading.
Planning Commission Minutes
May 12, 2020
Page 3
Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding the
proposed project related to traffic safety. Specifically, there were concerns with the
enforceability of the “right-in/right-out only” and “no left turn” signs, the necessity of a
two-way driveway approach, and instances where vehicles driving westbound along
Palos Verdes Drive East that make left turns into the property may result in rear
collisions due to insufficient sight distance visibility at the hairpin curve.
Public Works Department Director Sassoon explained how the proposed
encroachment permit in the public right-of-way has been revised and that adding a left
turn pocket as a center lane along Palos Verdes Drive East may possibly alleviate
potential rear collisions when left-turns are made into the property, although it will be a
costly option to pursue.
Chairman Leon opened the public hearing.
Luis de Moraes (Applicant) – discussed the need for the two-way driveway approach
and ancillary east side yard improvements, which were in part due to Fire Department
requirements.
David de Langis (Property Owner) – provided an overview of the project, which
included revisions to incorporate Public Works Department required conditions of
approval.
David Lukac – the property owner to the east of the project site expressed concerns
with the construction impacts, privacy, and usability of the trail along Palos Verdes
Drive East.
Madeline Ryan – spoke in opposition of the project regarding the two different traffic
studies presented to the Traffic Safety Committee, the two-way driveway approach,
and the Public Works Department required conditions of approval that include
recording a covenant for the encroachment in the public right-of-way.
SUNSHINE – spoke on the equestrian trail in the area and questioned the feasibility of
the proposed 8’ wide trail on a concrete slab.
Luis de Moraes –spoke on the efforts to work with the City for the past 2 years and
stated they disagree with Staff’s recommendation.
Chairman Leon closed the public hearing.
Additional discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding the
Variance request and the need for additional input from the Traffic Safety Committee to
address traffic safety concerns.
COMMISSIONER PERESTAM MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CHURA
TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 23, 2020, SO AS TO PROVIDE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPLICANT TO CONSIDER DESIGN
IMPROVEMENTS AND TO RESUBMIT PROJECT PLANS, PROVIDED THE
Planning Commission Minutes
May 12, 2020
Page 4
APPLICANT AGREES TO A TIME EXTENSION PURSUANT TO THE PERMIT
STREAMLINING ACT. THE MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 5 TO 0 WITH
COMMISSIONERS HAMILL AND SANTAROSA RECUSING.
3. HEIGHT VARIATION & SITE PLAN REVIEW: (CASE NO. ZON2017-00594):
31031 Rue Langlois (MSG)
Assistant Planner Guillean presented the staff report, which included a request to
demolish 42.25% of an existing one-story residence to accommodate the construction
of a 1,879ft2 addition consisting of a 345ft2 addition to the existing first-floor and a new
1,534ft2 second-floor for a new total structure size of 4,243ft2 (garage included),
measuring 25.91’ in height and ancillary site improvements which includes the
construction of a new 107ft2 entry porch, 597ft2 attached patio cover and a 597ft2
balcony.
Chairman Leon opened the public hearing.
Hamlet Sadekyan (Applicant): representing Stu3Dio Architecture gave an overview of
the project and design.
Chairman Leon closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding the project’s
proposed privacy mitigation measures and the existing legal nonconforming setback.
COMMISSIONER JAMES MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMILL TO
ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-06: APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, A
HEIGHT VARIATION AND SITE PLAN REVIEW TO DEMOLISH 42.25% OF AN
EXISTING 2,364FT2 SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE TO ACCOMMODATE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A 1,879FT2 ADDITION CONSISTING OF A 345FT2 ADDITION
TO THE EXISTING FIRST-FLOOR AND A NEW 1,534FT2 SECOND-FLOOR FOR A
NEW TOTAL STRUCTURE SIZE OF 4,243FT2 (GARAGE INCLUDED) MEASURING
25.91’ IN HEIGHT AND ANCILLARY SITE IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 107FT2 ENTRY PORCH, 597FT2 ATTACHED
PATIO COVER AND A 597FT2 BALCONY AT 31031 RUE LANGLOIS. THE MOTION
PASSED ON A VOTE OF 7 TO 0.
NEW BUSINESS:
None
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS:
4. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON MAY 26, 2020
Planning Commission Minutes
May 12, 2020
Page 5
The commission unanimously agreed to cancel this meeting due to a lack of agenda
items.
5. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON JUNE 9, 2020
Approved as presented.
ADJOURNMENT: 9:27 P.M.
For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to
https://rpv.granicus.com/player/clip/3580?view_id=5